The ultimate goal in blackjack is making the best decision on your hand so as to get your 21 or get closer to 21 than the dealer. To do this, decisions must be made on every card. The questions here as a player are whether to hit, stand, double down, split, when to take insurance and when to surrender. Using the chart below, you are one step to becoming a major pro on getting that 21.

Key-words:

Stand: refusing to take another card from the dealer
Hit: adding a card to your hand
Double: doubling your bet and making only one hit
Split: double your bet and splitting the pairs to make more hands
Face up: the dealer’s first card
Soft:A hand that has an Ace equal to 11

Standon

Always on 17 or higher
13-16 unless the dealer’s face up is 7 or more
12 when the dealer’s face up is 4,5 or 6
A soft 19 to 20
Soft 18 when the dealer’s card is 2, 7 or 8
A pair of 10
A pair of 9 when the dealer’s face up is 7, 10 or an Ace

Hiton

13-16 if the dealer’s face up is 7 and higher or an Ace
12 unless the dealer face up is 4,5 or 6
Always on 6 through to 8
9 unless the dealer’s face up ranges 3-6
Soft 13-14 unless the dealer’s face up is 5 or 6
Soft 15-16 unless dealer’s face up is 4-6
Soft 18 when the dealer’s face up is 9 or more
A pair of 7 when the dealer’s face up is more than 8 or an Ace
A pair of 6 when the dealer’s face up is 7 or more
A pair of 5 when the dealer has a 10 or an Ace
A pair of 4 unless the dealer’s face is 5 or 6
A pair of 3 and 2 when the dealer has 8 or more

Double downon

11 unless the dealer’s face up is an Ace
10 except the dealer has a 10 or an Ace
9, soft 17 and soft 18 when the dealer has 3-6
Soft 15 and soft 16 when the dealer has 4-6
Soft 13 and soft 14 when the dealer has 5-6
A pair of 5 unless the dealer has a 10 or an Ace

Split

Always spilt an Ace and 8’s
Pair of 9 unless the dealer has a face up of 7
Pair of 7 unless the dealer has 8 or higher or an Ace
Pair of 6, 2 and 3 unless the dealer has 7 or higher or an Ace
A pair of 4 when the dealer has 4 or 5

Perfect Pairs refers to a wager in which the first two cards dealt to a hand will be a pair of the same value; for example, a pair of twos, threes, fours, etc. Odds are paid depending on whether the two matching cards are also of the same suit, same color, or are of mixed colors. If the two cards do not form a pair, then the Perfect Pairs wager loses. Details »

Essential to take note of, is the fact that blackjack rules vary from one casino to the other and this may complicate learning blackjack. The player should check for local variations before playing. However, most correct blackjack rules are so fundamental that they bear no variations in various casinos. Additionally, most large-scale casinos have similar rules, making blackjack a whole lot less complicated. With that, let us delve into a detailed account of basic blackjack equipment and rules. Details »

Blackjack Switch is a casino game which was invented by Geoff Hall and was later patented in 2009. It is a blackjack variant where two hands, rather than one, are dealt to each playing position. It allows the player to trade cards between two hands, which is otherwise considered a classic cheating maneuver in standard card games. Details »

Super Fun 21, a variation of blackjack, is played using a standard 52 deck card. One up to eight decks of cards can be used while playing Super Fun 21. It is one of those fascinating Blackjack variants which offer players quite a wide array of offers once they get dealt a given hands combinations. These kinds of payouts usually do not require any additional side bet. Details »

The ultimate goal in blackjack is making the best decision on your hand so as to get your 21 or get closer to 21 than the dealer. To do this, decisions must be made on every card. The questions here as a player are whether to hit, stand, double down, split, when to take insurance and when to surrender. Using the chart below, you are one step to becoming a major pro on getting that 21.Details »

For a player to be able to beat the dealer and the house edge, he or she must master the art of counting cards. It is not a complicated activity but it needs a lot of keenness and accuracy. Blackjack counting is based on basic strategy since it determines how every card is played. Details »

This is the oldest form of blackjack and is often referred to as traditional blackjack. The major difference between classic blackjack and other variants is the type of house edge it offers and the fact that you only play with a single deck with the exceptions of a few casinos that offer more options. Details »

The odds involved in blackjack are whether a player will bust or win his bet. You need to first understand, what hands favor a dealer or the house, a phenomenon known as house edge. This amount is calculated by multiplying the total bets by the amount the casino keeps.The casino always has an advantage over the player because one of the dealer’s cards is facedown and the players have to guess what the value if the card is. Details »

The number of people who play Blackjack especially in America is larger than that of Russian roulette and baccarat combined. The notion that Blackjack is a difficult game to play has with time been dealt away with. Details »

Two entirely different blackjack variants are known as Pontoon and this can be confusing for players. One can be played at Internet casinos on a number of software including Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Microgaming, Cryptologic and Galewind Software. The other, following the initial rise of its popularity being in England, derives it names from being a British version of the common Blackjack card game. Details »

John Ferguson, who is better known by his pen name Stanford Wong, has become legendary throughout the blackjack world for writing some game-changing blackjack books. In addition to this, he’s also created computer programs and techniques that have furthered blackjack strategy to a great degree. This being said, Stanford Wong is definitely a man worth looking at a little closer. Details »

Blackjack card counting is the stuff of legend because skilled players have used this practice to make thousands or even millions of dollars. The MIT Blackjack Team even made a profitable multi-million dollar business out of card counting! Obviously it’s hard to replicate this type of success, but that’s not to say it is impossible for you to be a good card counter. If you’re interested in taking up the practice, here are some tips that will help you get started. Details »

Many of you have probably heard the saying, “Cheaters never prosper.” But there are plenty of blackjack players who are willing to test this thought with various blackjack cheating methods. Most blackjack cheats involve slight of hand tricks, and if your hand isn’t slight enough, you can end up in jail. That’s why the BlackjackLife staff doesn’t recommend blackjack cheating to players. But if you’re still interested, here is a quick look at some of the most common blackjack cheats. Details »

Blackjack betting systems are quite common since people use them in an effort to win more money with the game. The idea here is not to overcome the house edge (unless you’re card counting), but rather to vary bets in a fashion that will help you come out on top. Details »

One driving force behind the popularity of online blackjack is that many sites are generous with bonuses. In fact, some players are able to beat the house edge when they combine skilled play with blackjack bonuses. Of course, not every player will achieve this feat because they don’t put much effort into taking advantage of these rewards. But seeing as how you can lose out on a lot of money by not going after blackjack bonuses, it’s definitely worth discussing what you should be looking for here. Details »

Bill Kaplan and J.P. Massar formed the basis for what would become the most famous card counting team in history – the MIT Blackjack Team. Interestingly enough, the two Americans met at a Chinese restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts of all places. Massar overheard Kaplan talking about blackjack card counting in the restaurant, and walked over to introduce himself, which is where our story begins. Details »

One of the lesser known skills among blackjack players involves recognizing dealer tells and exploiting them. Now this might sound strange because blackjack isn’t like poker where you’re trying to judge the strength of an opponent’s hand before making moves of your own. Instead, you make decisions based on your score total versus the dealer’s upcard. But with the blackjack dealer tells concept, you look for subtle gestures and cues as to what the dealer’s hole card is. Now that we’ve covered the introduction on this subject, here are some more things you need to know. Details »

The typical blackjack stereotype is an overweight, middle-aged man with poor fashion tastes and a receding hairline. Erica Shoenberg certainly does not meet this stereotypical view of a blackjack player. In fact, the Akron, Ohio native earned the nickname the “Blackjack Babe” for her good looks and modeling career. But is Schoenberg really a blackjack legend, or just some model who happens to play a little blackjack on the side? Let’s take a look… Details »

One exciting adaption to the game of blackjack was in 1978, when Las Vegas’ Sahara Casino began running blackjack tournaments. Rather than pitting players against the house, blackjack tournaments start players off with equal chip amounts, and pay out prizes to the top chip earners. If you’re interested in playing some blackjack tournaments in the future, or you already play them, here’s a look at some strategy for these games. Details »

One of the simpler blackjack betting systems in the game is the Paroli system. Although not widely used, those who do employ the Paroli system swear by its potential to earn big profits at the blackjack tables. And if you’re already used to using the popular Martingale system, you should have no trouble learning the Paroli. With the introduction out of the way, let’s get into how you use the Paroli when playing blackjack games. Details »

Even those who barely know anything about blackjack strategy are familiar with the fact that skilled players stand a much better chance to win in the game. And it’s for this reason why people study basic blackjack strategy so that they can reduce the house edge considerably. In fact, you can lower the blackjack house edge down to 0.5% by using perfect basic strategy. With this being said, here is a look at some of the things you need to keep in mind with blackjack strategy. Details »

These days, it seems like regular online blackjack is being replaced in popularity by live dealer casino blackjack. With live dealer blackjack games, you have beautiful women dealing you the cards, and you get to interact with other players too. Essentially, this is the closest you’ll ever come to getting the live casino experience in your living room, which is more than alright with many people. Details »

In their pursuit of learning perfect blackjack strategy, some players often neglect to cover bankroll management. But just like with any other casino game, blackjack bankroll management is extremely important, and something that players should definitely study extensively. With this being said, let’s look over some of the main things that players need to know in regards to blackjack bankroll management. Details »

Two blackjack legends whose legacies are tied together are Ken Uston and Al Francesco. The main reason why Uston and Francesco are linked is because they played on the same blackjack team together. Now most people would consider Uston the more famous out of these two because he went on to write several major blackjack books, and appeared on TV shows too. But it’s still worth discussing both of these blackjack legends in-depth because many within the blackjack community actually consider Francesco more of a prominent figure. Details »

One of the biggest things that beginning blackjack players should know is that blackjack rules aren’t always the same in every casino. And this is the case even if you’re playing the exact same game of ’21’ in different casinos. The main reason why casinos change rules is to increase their house edge over the player. With this being the case, it’s really important that you understand how the different rule changes can alter your chances of winning. The following will show the main rules that are changed, and keep in mind that you may find none or all of these rule changes in effect. Details »

Jackpots and big payouts have a special allure in the casino world because they give players the opportunity to earn big money instantly. Of course, with the chance to win big payouts also comes a high house edge, which is certainly the case with the blackjack perfect pairs game. This being said, let’s further dissect the blackjack perfect pairs bet, and examine why it isn’t a very good wager to make. Details »

While many blackjack betting systems call on you to make risky and bankroll-threatening decisions at the table, the D’Alembert system is a bit safer choice. The D’Alembert was named after its creator, 18th-century mathematician and physicist Jean le Rond D’Alembert, who theorized that his work could be used to balance out wins and losses over the long-term – though he didn’t entirely mean for this to become a blackjack system. In any case, D’Alembert’s original work is well known for its application in the blackjack world, which definitely makes it worth reviewing. Details »

While the advent of online blackjack was certainly impressive, some people longed for an even more realistic blackjack experience. Enter live dealer casino blackjack, which features streaming video footage of a real person dealing the cards, and the chance to chat with other players. Live dealer blackjack gives players the opportunity to experience a real casino atmosphere without ever having to leave the house. If you’re interested in experiencing this for yourself, here is what you need to know about playing live dealer casino blackjack. Details »

When it comes to using questionable tactics to win in blackjack, much of the attention has often been put on the players, who’ve used everything from chip placing to cards in their sleeve to cheat the house. Even card counting is sometimes construed as cheating by novice blackjack players (though it’s not). Details »

Out of all the figures throughout blackjack history, nobody is more famous than Edward O. Thorp. In fact, Thorp is credited with inventing the modern card counting system that blackjack pros have used to make huge profits. Seeing as how Thorp is such an important figure in the game of blackjack, let’s take an in-depth look at his accomplishments. Details »

One concept that’s really increased in popularity over the past few years is the blackjack party pit. Just like the name suggests, blackjack party pits feature a fun and festive atmosphere where music is blaring, beautiful women are dealing the cards, and more women are in the background dancing. The basic idea behind blackjack party pits is pure enjoyment, which is definitely alluring to the average player. However, you also have to be cautious when playing at these tables, and we’ll explain why below. Details »

Single deck blackjack has often been looked at as the holy grail of the game because it offers players the best chance to win profits. In fact, the house edge is just 0.15% when players stick to blackjack games with a single deck. With this being the case, you’d think that single deck blackjack is the greatest thing ever. However, there are actually some disadvantages to the subject as well, which is covered below along with single deck blackjack advantages. Details »

While some blackjack betting systems are fairly simple to learn, the Labouchere system requires a bit of an explanation. Now this isn’t to say the Labouchere is overly-difficult to learn, you just need to understand a couple of basic points before putting it into practice. That being said, here is a closer look at the basics of using the Labouchere and its effectiveness. Details »

While most famous blackjack players accumulate their wealth on the tables and through books, Kerry Packer is an exception to the norm. Packer built a media empire over his lifetime, and became the richest man in Australia ($A6.5 billion) before his death in 2005. Beyond his extravagant wealth and media empire, the Aussie was known for his high stakes gambling ventures into blackjack, poker, baccarat and other games. Of course, what we’re most interested in here is the blackjack, and how Packer became a legend for his play. Details »

Blackjack betting systems are commonly used by players to make the game more exciting while attempting to make more profits. The most common system is flat betting, which sees blackjack players make the exact same bet over and over again. Every other type of betting system besides flat betting is either a negative or positive progression. Seeing as how these are the two main types of betting system classifications, let’s take a look at both of them more closely. Details »

Some blackjack players become legends for their unparalleled profits at the table, and quirky stories away from the felt. Others become blackjack legends because of their theories and contributions to the game. Arnold Snyder is of the latter variety because, while he’s definitely been a successful player, he has found even more success as an author. Since Snyder is such an interesting fellow, let’s dive a little deeper into his life and blackjack contributions. Details »

When some people think of crowded blackjack tables, they cringe because they don’t want to deal with a loud and boisterous atmosphere while trying to play the game. But even if you don’t like being around a bunch of people while playing blackjack, there are still some advantages you should consider first before refusing to sit down at a table with six other players. That being said, here’s a quick look at those benefits. Details »

Russ Hamilton is definitely one of the more interesting figures in blackjack history because he’s both a successful blackjack and poker player. In fact, it was the latter that got Hamilton started playing cards in the first place, and a college professor once told the Detroit native that he’d profit more from poker than school. So Hamilton started playing in underground poker games around the Detroit area, and was very good at it. This prompted him to move to Las Vegas, where a new game caught his attention. Details »

With several difficult choices available in every hand, blackjack is not the easiest game in terms of strategy. And don’t even get us started on blackjack card counting! Fortunately, blackjack strategy can be simplified quite easily if you concentrate on a few basic tips to start with. This being said, here is a quick look at some basic blackjack tips that will help you play well right away. Details »

Those who don’t like to use risky blackjack betting systems like the Parlay or Martingale usually opt for split strategies like the 1-3-2-6 system. At first this sounds pretty complicated because it’s just a string of numbers. However, using this betting strategy isn’t overly-difficult – even for beginning blackjack players. That said, let’s take a closer look at how to use this system. Details »

Many people these days prefer to stay at home and play online blackjack when starting out because it’s less intimidating. But the more you fall in love with the game, the more likely it is that you’ll want to play blackjack in a land-based casino. This being said, here’s a quick look at the basics of playing casino blackjack. Details »

While most blackjack legends become famous for card counting, Don Johnson has etched his name into blackjack history by using conventional strategy to win millions of dollars. By his own admissions, Johnson doesn’t count cards, and claims that many players could beat the house if they had the bankroll to do so. Seeing as how Johnson’s theory on blackjack is so interesting, he’s definitely worth looking at closer. Details »

Few casino games involve the amount of strategy that blackjack does, and it’s important to make as many correct moves as possible to lower the house edge. Of course, it’s virtually impossible to play the game correctly when you subscribe to all of the blackjack myths out there. After all, many blackjack myths revolve around poor strategy moves, and this can cost you a lot of money. So in order to avoid these problems, it’s important to identify the myths and avoid them. Details »

Movies and TV shows often depict blackjack card counting as this glamorous activity that people can quickly learn, and use to win huge sums of money from casinos. But the reality is that card counting is much harder than what the general public is shown through movies. This being said, let’s take a quick look at just how realistic being a successful card counter is. Details »

For anyone who’s new to blackjack, it’s highly recommended that you start with online blackjack first. The reason why is because the online casino software is a good guide for players who are unsure of the intricacies involved with playing the game. Of course, it’s still worth looking at how to play online blackjack, which you can read about below. Details »

One seemingly good bet to beginning blackjack players is taking insurance. And a major reason why beginning players are fooled into thinking insurance is a good idea is because dealers ask players beforehand if they want insurance when the opportunity arises. However, this is a very poor wager, and we’ll get into the specifics of why after explaining more about this bet. Details »

Blackjack is definitely one of the best casino games to play because of its low house edge when proper strategy is used. Assuming you’re on a table with favorable rules and good blackjack strategy is used, you can bring the house edge below 1%. Details »

Along with the Martingale system, the Parlay system is definitely one of the most extreme blackjack strategies that you can use. The reason why the Parlay is so extreme is because you double bets after every win. This being said, it’s hard to keep your profits when you’re letting winnings ride on every wager. Interestingly enough, this is why they also call the Parlay the “Let It Ride” system too. No matter what you call the Parlay though, it’s a very popular system that’s worth examining closer. Details »

There are numerous stories and legends about blackjack card counters who’ve experienced major success in land-based casinos. This being the case, some online blackjack players wonder if it’s possible for them to duplicate these feats in the online version of the game. After all, if you can sit at home and make thousands of dollars playing a casino game, it would definitely be worth a try. In addition to this, there is no casino staff to throw you out at an online casino site if you’re a successful counter. Keeping this in mind, let’s look at if online blackjack card counting is possible. Details »

The most alluring system in blackjack is the Martingale, which initially seems like a can’t-fail strategy. But once you learn more about the Martingale, you’ll find that it is also an extremely risky strategy which could cost you your entire bankroll. Seeing as how this is the case, let’s examine the finer points of the Martingale, and discuss if you should actually consider this system. Details »